Cox, Kerr in danger of missing rest of season

Star West Coast pair Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr are in danger of missing the remainder of the AFL season with the club's medical staff unable to diagnose their mystery injuries.

The duo will visit a specialist in Adelaide this week in a bid to get to the bottom of their respective complaints, which West Coast medical staff believe are groin related.

Coach John Worsfold could not rule out the possibility the pair were suffering from the dreaded osteitis pubis and said both Cox and Kerr were likely to spend at least the next two to three weeks on the sidelines.

Kerr has missed the past two games with his complaint, while Cox spent almost a month on the sidelines before returning for last Sunday's loss to St Kilda.

Cox was a lame duck by the third quarter of that game and failed to play out the match as the soreness set in.

"The issue is the soreness they've got came on reasonably suddenly but it hasn't gone suddenly, that's the concern," Worsfold said on Tuesday.

"If it was just a muscle strain in either case you would expect it would clear up pretty quickly and they haven't, so we need to get more information.

Worsfold said there was a chance the pair may not appear again this year.

"It's something that we want to make sure that we know exactly what it is," he said.

"At this stage we are hoping they may only miss two or three weeks, and we'll get them back up and going."

Cox's absence paves the way for Mark Seaby to return, with Worsfold all but guaranteeing the out-of-favour ruckman a recall for Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Nic Naitanui is expected to return from a gluteal injury but Worsfold said Seaby would be needed to counter Port Adelaide's powerful ruck pairing of Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade.

Seaby, who asked to be traded at the end of last year, has played just three games for the Eagles this season due to Cox's supreme fitness and form.

And with Cox and Naitanui set to fill the ruck positions in the coming years, the out-of-contract Seaby is almost certain to seek a new home at the end of 2009 .

"From what I know of Mark Seaby, he'll want to come in and play really well to help the team, that will be his absolute focus," Worsfold said.

"By doing that, that's great for his long-term career.

"He's always been fully aware of where he's sat and his attitude has been outstanding and he's played good footy.

"He didn't want Coxy to get sore but it's happened and that gives him his opportunity."

The Eagles have lost their past 18 interstate games and Worsfold attributed that record to his team's lack of confidence when playing on the road.